Shabla has declared a state of emergency after torrential rain. A stream burst its banks at midday today, flooding two streets, and 16 people were evacuated. Mayor Mariyan Zhechev said they are in a safe place.

A red code for torrential rain was issued today for Varna, Dobrich, Smolyan, Kardzhali and Haskovo because of a Mediterranean cyclone crossing the Balkans.

Where it began: Red alert for rain in Varna and Dobrich, with flood risk across Bulgaria

Rain has barely stopped in Shabla for a second day, and more than 150 litres fell in 24 hours. It eased in the early afternoon and the stream level dropped. Leaves left by the surge show the water stood higher until recently.

Two women were evacuated last night from the village of Smin, also in Shabla municipality. Their house is partly flooded, Zhechev said.

One of the evacuated men said he came home for lunch just as the heavy rain began. Water poured into the low-lying part of the neighbours' property, and the children were taken out to other neighbours. He said it was very frightening. He is now staying with his son and daughter-in-law. She said water ran down the street all night, the house leaked everywhere and no one slept. The family will stay up again tonight to watch over the children.

Because of the risk of more flooding, the BG-ALERT system was activated for Shabla at 5pm. Municipal staff, police and firefighters will be out all night.

Varna was the hardest hit by the downpours yesterday. Schools are closed in the city today because of the red code. Pupils return to class tomorrow, as the situation is expected to return to normal. More rain is due, and more than 30 mobile teams are on standby in the field.

Tsaribrod Street floods in every heavy rain, so shopkeepers barricaded their doors today. Some have permanent barriers and a lever, known as a "goat's foot", which they use to open the drains. One of them said he would rather put sacks at the door and leave the shop empty than clean up until 2am. After the last flood he bailed out more than 100 cubic metres of water and cleaned until 3am.

The water rises and gets into the shop, and in the past it has reached almost the top of the barrier, another shopkeeper said.

The area around the railway station is among the most critical in Varna and floods in almost every heavy rain. Some of the drains there are full of mud and rubbish. Deputy mayor Vladimir Dimitrov said he had personally visited the worst spots and they have been cleaned.

In the Asparuhovo district, which flooded in 2014, the drains were checked again. District mayor Ivaylo Marinov said the check found no serious problems with drainage.